Mountain State Times

The West Virginia Department of Health has announced the departure of Dr. Matthew Christiansen from his position as state health officer. His last day with the department was December 13, 2024.

Dr. Christiansen expressed gratitude for his tenure, stating, "I am incredibly thankful to Governor Justice and Secretary Young for the opportunity to serve as West Virginia’s state health officer. It has been the honor of a lifetime." He highlighted his pride in rebuilding public health post-pandemic and emphasized the importance of public health staff, saying they "are unsung heroes who keep us healthy, and they deserve our respect and thanks every single day."

Cabinet Secretary Sherri A. Young acknowledged Dr. Christiansen's contributions: "I would like to thank Dr. Christiansen for his time serving as state health officer," she said. "We wish him nothing but the best as he explores new opportunities."

During his tenure, Dr. Christiansen focused on strengthening relationships by visiting all 48 local health departments and initiating monthly engagement calls with diverse stakeholders across the state. He led several initiatives such as establishing outcome measures within the Bureau for Public Health (BPH), launching an anti-vaping campaign targeting youth, restructuring the Fatality-Mortality Review Team process, supporting Local Health Departments, and developing evaluation standards for local health services.